Unlocking client value quickly: the key to being an effective consultancy partner

Why unlocking value quickly is so important 

Competitive advantage 

In a fast-paced market, the ability to adapt and deliver change quickly provides a significant competitive advantage. Organisations that can transform efficiently are better positioned to respond to unexpected market changes, fend off disruption, capitalise on new opportunities, and outperform competitors. 

Customer satisfaction and loyalty 

Rapid improvements in products, services, and customer experiences leads to higher customer satisfaction and loyalty. In an era where customer expectations are continually rising, and continuous improvement of technology platforms and user interfaces is considered table-stakes, meeting these demands swiftly is crucial for retaining existing customers and attracting new ones. 

Employee engagement and retention 

More and more of the work we do is in the Business Apps space where we look for opportunities to automate repeatable processes that allow our clients to operate more accurately and efficiently. One of the very welcome by-products of delivering a process efficiency app is that people no longer have to do mundane, repetitive tasks and get time back in their day to do more rewarding and productive work.  

We also look to get the client’s team deeply involved in our projects. A well-managed transformation or product delivery process that involves employees and supports their development will typically lead to higher engagement and retention rates. When your people are involved in delivering outputs and outcomes that make a difference to the business, they will feel proud of their contribution and more deeply motivated.  

Financial performance 

Quick value realisation typically translates into improved financial performance. By streamlining operations, reducing costs, improving processes, and enhancing products, companies will inevitably achieve better profitability and shareholder value. 

Sustainability and long-term growth 

Unlocking value quickly ensures that companies are not just able to survive, but are set up to thrive in the long term. Sustainable growth is achieved through continuous innovation, efficient operations, and a proactive approach to market dynamics. 

So that’s why we try to unlock value quickly. Here are some of the tools and techniques we use to actually deliver….

Discovery 

Discovery is the one time where we slow down to speed up. We begin every engagement with a thorough analysis of the problems we’re trying to solve or opportunities we’re trying to realise. We look at customer or user audiences and interrogate their needs. We examine technology platforms and any constraints that we need to design around. We evaluate processes, systems, organisational structures, and market positioning. And where we can, we let the data do the talking. Leveraging analytics and industry benchmarks, to highlight key areas for improvement and potential value creation. 

Roadmapping & rapid prototyping 

Most projects we work on, whether it’s an enterprise-wide digital transformation, or a domain-specific Business App, can be delivered incrementally.  

We work with our clients to create a long list of features and functionality that will address the audience needs and problems to solve (that we identified in Discovery), and then we help them prioritise this list so that we can focus our initial development efforts on the features that will add the most value in the shortest timeframe.  

Developing rapid prototypes and minimum viable products allows you to learn by doing, build momentum, and get real user feedback early. It’s a mindset as much as a methodology and you have to get comfortable with the idea that the solution is not going to be fully formed and perfect on day one. 

Agile ways of working  

MVPs and roadmapping go hand in hand with agile ways of working. Delivering in sprints leads to quick wins, continuous feedback, lower risk and faster value creation - when you get it right (but that’s a whole other article!) 

Change management and stakeholder engagement 

Any change needs to be supported by transparent communication across all levels of the organisation, ensuring that everyone is informed, engaged, and aligned with the what we’re trying to achieve. 

But it’s not just about communication, it’s about supporting the change with training and coaching, helping employees adapt to new processes and technologies, and fostering a culture that embraces and welcomes change 

Performance monitoring and continuous improvement 

Establishing KPIs and regular monitoring ensures that we can track the impact of what we’ve delivered. We always like to use data to drive decision making where we can. It removes opinions from the equation, particularly when we’re trying to decide which features or functionality to build next.  

The Role of AI, process automation, and Business Apps 

Everyone is talking about AI at the moment and there’s no doubt that it has the potential to massively accelerate value creation in lots of different ways. But Apps that automate business processes can be just as powerful. 

Business apps can provide you with real-time access to critical data and insights, enabling quicker decision-making and more agile responses to market changes.  

When routine tasks that used to take up valuable time are automated it creates space for your team to focus on more strategic activities. 

Automation also reduces the risk of human error, ensuring more accurate and reliable processes. This can be particularly beneficial in areas like finance and supply chain management, where precision is critical. 

I guess the point I’m trying to make is that the technology you use to enable business efficiencies and rapid value creation, is probably less important than the use cases you apply it to. There’s always more than one way to skin a cat!